Teaching Genius: Dorothy DeLay and the Making of a Musician

by Barbara Lourie Sand

Itzhak Perlman, Kennedy, Midori, and Sarah Chang were among Dorothy Delay's students during her five decades as a violin teacher at Juilliard. For more than ten years, the author was granted access to DeLay's classes and lessons at Juilliard and the Aspen Music Festival and School, and this book reveals DeLay's deep intuition of each student's needs. An exploration of the mysteries of teaching and learning, it includes a feast of anecdotes about an extraordinary character.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Education, Parenting, Biography, Psychology, Teaching

240 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2003

Reviews

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

*read for class*
As a violinist and teacher, this book was incredibly enlightening to me, as well as intimidating. It was interesting to be able to get a 'behind the scenes' look at one of the most successful violin teachers of all time, and see exactly what contributed to her enormous success. It was intimidating however, to read about wildly successful and naturally talented prodigies for a good portion of the book.

This book was artfully written with lots of cool new vocab words, as well as insights about life within the lens of music.

“I think they need a tremendous diet of listening to many, many different people so that the intake is spread out over many styles” (67)
“When you are successful, you remember how nice that was, and you do it again.” (69)

“I don’t know what it is that makes people go on in the face of discouragement because no matter what you do — music, politics, art – you are going to face times when you are not successful, so I suppose the ability to go on anyway is the most valuable” (69)

“Discipline is just the process of carrying out your plan” (70)

“Where on earth did all that passion and sophistication come from the moment that Sarah started to play, and to what remote place did it go as soon as she put down her bow?” (176)

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't say enough good things about this book. DeLay's legacy lives on in so many musicians of today. She was so unique, effective, and transformational. This book speaks to her and what she stood for. Highly recommend!

[Brooke Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I loved learning about these people's lives and the phenomenal approach to teaching that's outlined.

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had been curious about this one for awhile. It makes no attempt to go into the particulars of technical pedagogy, but paints a beautiful, believable portrait Delay and the way she approached students and teaching. The author doesn't shy away from Delay's more controversial behaviors, but places them in context and shows how they affect and are interpreted by different people in the industry. It's filled with anecdotes and quips from Delay and her students that occasionally verge on the hilarious. As a violin teacher, this reminded me that any technical information (however important) I may be able to give a student is ultimately overshadowed by how I'm able to help them to develop confidence and teach themselves.

[ciera · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book ignited a desire in me to become even a tenth of the respected teacher that Delay is. So much focus is on the performers in the classical music world, but dare I say the educators are even more important.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a little about how to practice, and a lot about teaching from this book.

[Elissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good book. Dorothy Delay was a fascinating character. It would have helped if the author knew something about violin and music and was able to offer more specifics than she did.

[Shiloh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic look inside the mind and methods of one of the greatest teachers of violin in the modern era. Really inspired me and gave me many ideas to use with my own students.

[François D'assisi · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intriguing behind the scenes look at the nurturing force behind some of the best musicians in the world.